Trump Again Considering Immigration Relief for Farm Workers
President Trump said he wants to shield reputable farmers from the impact of immigration crackdowns, shortly after reinstating workplace raids on farms. He suggested allowing these farmers to take responsibility for workers to avoid hurting agriculture or non-criminal migrants.
Despite these comments, the administration has sent mixed signals. Following a June 12 post promising protections for migrant workers, raids were temporarily paused—then resumed days later.
Trump’s statements contrast with those of border czar Tom Homan, who said enforcement on farms will continue but target criminals first. He emphasized legal hiring options for farm labor. The inconsistency has sown confusion and fear among agricultural employers and workers. One ICE raid reduced staff at a New Mexico dairy by more than half. In other regions, even rumors of ICE activity deterred workers, crippling operations.
Foreign-born workers play a major role in U.S. agriculture—accounting for 38% of jobs in farming, fishing, and forestry in 2023. Roughly 42% of crop farmworkers in 2020–22 had no work authorization, with the largest share of unauthorized labor concentrated in California. Measuring legal status remains difficult, but NAWS data remains a trusted source.
“The share of workers who are U.S. born is highest in the Midwest, while the share who are unauthorized is highest in California,” the Economic Research Service (ERS) reported.
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